Festivals, hikes, and tours make September a monumental time to experience southern New Mexico.
Designed to celebrate all three national monuments in the Las Cruces area along with the city’s cultural wealth, the fourth annual Monuments to Main Street returns as a month full of events that showcase the vibrant culture, natural beauty, and rich history of the destination. Each September, visitors and locals alike gather to experience a broad array of tours, hikes, and film, wine, and green chile festivals.
Monument and history buffs will want to explore the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument, the iconic and other-worldly White Sands National Monument, and the fascinating Prehistoric Trackways National Monument. A variety of guided tours and excursions provide visitors a better understanding of the history of the Mesilla Valley. Some tours require prior registration and/or have limits on the number of participants; visit www.Monuments2MainStreet.com for more details on timing and fees.
New events this year include:
Visitors and locals are invited to take tours, sample southern New Mexico cuisine, and catch some sunshine beneath New Mexico skies in events ranging from Organ Mountains City to Sky Plane Tours and White Sands National Monument Sunset Strolls, to film festivals, outdoor fiestas, off-roading tours, yoga in the monument, corn mazes, and everything in between. Hotel packages are available for stays in September but must be booked in advance.
Each day throughout the month will provide an intriguing array of options to explore. Each weekend, Southwest Expeditions offers an exciting variety of 4WD Jeep tours and city-to-sky flightseeing, and New Mexico Wild has scheduled a range of intriguing hikes.
Here are just a few week-by-week highlights:
The Hatch Chile Festival is a highlight of every Labor Day weekend and this year is no exception. Adding to the weekend’s excitement is the Mesilla River Run, inner tube rafting on the Rio Grande, and several guided hikes. The City to Sky Plane Tour will lift travelers from Las Cruces International Airport for flight-seeing along the Rio Grande and above the Organ Mountains. Wine lovers will enjoy sampling local grown wines from North America’s oldest wine region at the annual NM Harvest Wine Festival.
September 8 to September 10
From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 8, join the party for the Monuments to Main Street Kick-Off Fiesta on Mesquite Street, at Klein Park, 155 N. Mesquite St. Live music by Nosotros, ballet folklórico, stagecoach trolley rides, a reenactment of the founding of Las Cruces, and desserts by La Reyna Michoacana will officially launch the month-long event.
On Sept. 7 and Sept. 8, hot-air balloons will fill the sky during the White Sands Balloon and Music Festival.
September 14 to September 15
On Sept. 14 and Sept. 15, the Diez y Seis de Septiembre Festival on the historic Mesilla Plaza features live music, rides, food, games and more.
The Picacho Mountain Outdoor Festival will feature a Chile Relleno cook-off contest, stagecoach rides, horseback rides, and various vendors.
September 27 to September 30
The month concludes with the famous Southern New Mexico State Fair & Rodeo from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1.
Visit www.Monuments2MainStreet.com for the fully updated list of happenings.